Kethi Kilonzo agrees to run for Makueni Senate seat

Mr Mutula Kilonzo’s daughter has finally agreed to vie for the Makueni senate by-election. It took long hours of talks between former Vice-President and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka to convince the previously reluctant Ms Diana Kethi Kilonzo to join politics.

Efforts to get comment from party chairman David Musila or Ms Kilonzo failed as their phones went unanswered.

However, speaking from Europe where he is on a business trip, Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama confirmed the news which dominated local vernacular radio stations and social media for the better part of Thursday.

“Yes I have been briefed of the good news, I will speak more on it once I land Friday”, Mr Muthama said by telephone.

Until Wednesday, the Wiper party had lost hope of finding a candidate with a wide appeal to go for the seat left vacant by Mr Kilonzo, who died on April 27.

The Jubilee coalition had shown all indications of snatching the seat from Wiper by poaching three top officials of the party.

Former Kibwezi MP Philip Kaloki and former assistant minister Gideon Ndambuki and former Makueni MP Peter Kiilu were strong allies of the former VP before they fell out and had warmed up to the opposition.

The entry of Ms Kilonzo has complicated matters for Jubilee in the July 22 by-election. – Daily Nation